Skoda Superb [New] Range : WHATS IN A NAME?

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Skodas Superb was always big but now its bigger. Steve Walker reports.

Skodas Superb is a car that concentrates on the basics of space, quality and comfort. It manages to nail all three of these while also making a useful stab at the value for money criteria. Its not the most handsome car or the sharpest drive but overall its hard not to admire Skodas achievement with the Superb.

Superb, superb, superb, superb, superb: In light of that apparently glowing endorsement, some people could already be sprinting in the direction of their local Skoda dealership, intent on purchasing the Czech marques latest executive cruiser. The problem with such an impulsive reaction is that the superlative-heavy opening was not an appraisal of the Skoda Superb at all. It was merely a written representation of the kind of echo that might rebound around this cars voluminous interior. Make no mistake, the Skoda Superb is big.

Whether its good or not remains to be seen. Skoda had quite some success with the original Superb. The wheeze of taking a Volkswagen Passat, adding a few inches of extra wheelbase and rebadging it as a Skoda proved simple but effective. At the competitive prices Skoda asked for the car, buyers could get Passat quality with significant gains in rear legroom.

Taxi drivers loved it. That model was replaced by this one and, again, the underpinnings are Passat in origin. This time its a mixture of the old Passat and the latest model but Skoda has done a far more thorough job of making the Superb feel like a model in its own right. The engine range, like much of the Skoda Superb, looks very Volkswagen.

Theres the familiar 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine that through some dark magic manages to produce 125bhp and moves this one and a half tonne car with some alacrity. Then theres the meatier 1.8-litre turbo offering with 160bhp and the 3.

6-litre V6 topping the petrol range with 260bhp. The diesel units are where the money of high-mileage drivers will probably go and here theres an aged 105bhp 1.9-litre option along with two far more satisfactory 2.0-litre TDI units.

The 140bhp option will probably account to more sales than any other engine but the pull of the 170bhp option will be tough to resist. Its an advanced common-rail injection unit, the first ever in a Skoda, with high standards of refinement as well as a mid-range thats punchier than Ricky Hatton.

"The Superbs executive car pretensions are underlined by a silky ride quality and hushed interior "

The Superbs executive car pretensions are underlined by a silky ride quality and hushed interior. Its a relaxing car to drive but isnt as alert in feel as the sportiest drives in the medium range sector. Theres the option of Volkswagens seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox on the less powerful engines but the standard manual setups are perfectly adroit. The Superb is front wheel drive in standard guise but 4x4 versions are offered for those seeking greater traction.

The Superbs size immediately strikes you. The old Superb was hardly compact but this model is 35mm longer. From some angles the shape isnt particularly graceful but its pleasant enough and from the inside its hard not to be impressed. The Volkswagen and Audi design cues are evident all around the interior and the general feeling of quality is tangible.

In the rear your lucky passengers will find legroom of a level only usually found in luxury saloons. Theres 19mm of extra kneeroom over the old Superb and space for even the preposterously tall to get comfy. Hatchback or saloon? Its the perennial poser for buyers in the medium range sector but the Skoda Superb neatly sidesteps it by being both bodystyles at the same time. Skoda has engineered a novel rear opening for the car which provides access to the large 565-litre luggage bay in the style either of a saloon or a hatchback.

Press one of the buttons on the Superbs rear and a small saloon boot lifts open. Press the other and the whole of the rear windscreen rises up as one with the boot lid to form a full-size hatch opening. This novel arrangement probably adds little in terms of practicality but the Superb is highly practical already. Fold down the rear seats and a huge 1,670-litre space presents itself.

The executive car for medium range money premise that has been so central to the Superbs success down the years holds firm with the latest car. Prices open at around £15,500 rising only around £10,000 to a V6 model with all the bells and whistles. At those prices, the Superb looks like a lot of car for the money. There are S, SE and Elegance trim levels but all include seven airbags, an alarm, Climatic air conditioning, a CD/MP3 stereo, alloy wheels, electric windows all-round, electric mirrors, the ESP stability programme and front foglights.

Park Assist technology is available on the SE and Elegance models for an extra £350 and on the entry level S variant for a £650 premium. For an extra £100 the S and SE trim levels can be fitted with a tyre pressure monitors can be fitted to the S and SE models and extra rear passenger side airbags can be fitted across the range for £250. The unorthodox boot design of the Suberb means that Skoda only had to invest in designing and building one Superb model rather than the saloon and hatchback versions that most marques are forced to produce in order to satisfy the whims of the markets in different countries. Its a clever solution and it gives the Superb an interesting feature of differentiation in its battle against the likes of Fords Mondeo, Hondas Accord and Renaults Laguna.

The desirable 170bhp common-rail diesel engine is an appealing option, not least because of its fuel economy and emissions. Considering the performance on offer, its 47mpg on the combined cycle and 159g/km of CO2 are very good. The Skoda name will still be a handicap to the Superb when it comes to residual values. Despite the rejuvenation in its public perception thats taken place since the dark days of the 80s and early 90s, the marque is still seen by some as a cheaper alternative to the mainstream and residuals are unlikely to be overly strong.

A lot of emphasis is placed on cars being sporty in the media but Skodas Superb is a model that unashamedly isnt and remains an extremely desirable choice nevertheless. Its less of a thrilling drivers car than some of its rivals, thats true, but on grounds of comfort, interior space and price, its right up with the best. The car is also well built with a good collection of modern engines to choose from. The Superb does a fine job of getting the things that matter to its target market right.

Anyone looking for a large, high quality car with exemplary levels of comfort will find little to complain about with Skodas Superb. Its a great place to ride out a long journey while both the pricing and the equipment levels make it a very cost effective choice.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Skoda Superb
PRICES: £15,490-£26,675 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 8-15 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 151-250g/km [est]
PERFORMANCE: [TDI 170] 0-60mph 8.8s / Max Speed 138mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [TDI 170] (combined) 47mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4840/1765/1469mm [est]